Pedir vs. Perguntar: How to Say “Ask” in Portuguese
English uses ask for both questions and requests. Portuguese usually distinguishes them with perguntar and pedir.
Real Life Portuguese · 5 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Perguntar is the usual verb when you want information. You can ask a person a question with perguntar a alguém, or say perguntar sobre something. In conversation, the person may be introduced with para or a depending on the sentence and variety.
Use perguntar to ask a question
Posso perguntar uma coisa?
Can I ask something?
Perguntei para ela onde fica a estação.
I asked her where the station is.
Ele perguntou sobre o horário.
He asked about the schedule.
Use pedir to request something
Pedir means to request or ask for something. It is the verb you need when asking for help, permission, an item, or a favor. At a café, for example, you pedir a drink or food; you perguntar about the menu or ingredients.
Pedi um café sem açúcar.
I ordered a coffee without sugar.
Ela pediu ajuda ao professor.
She asked the teacher for help.
Posso pedir para você esperar um minuto?
Can I ask you to wait a minute?
Compare the information with the request
A useful question to ask yourself is: do I want an answer, or do I want someone to give or do something? An answer points toward perguntar. An item, favor, or action points toward pedir. English “ask” alone cannot tell you which Portuguese verb to choose.
- Ask a question: perguntar o nome, perguntar onde fica.
- Ask for a thing: pedir a conta, pedir um copo d’água.
- Ask for an action: pedir para alguém ligar mais tarde.
Put it into practice
Build a pair of sentences from one real situation: ask a question about a café, then request what you want to order. The contrast makes both verbs easier to remember.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “Can I ask you to wait a minute”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
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